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Co 15023 sugarcane Photo: Dr Photographer · Pexels License · source ↗

Co 15023 sugarcane

Co 15023, released in 2020 by ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore for the subtropical zone, is one of the front-line replacements for Co 0238 in red-rot-affected blocks of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. The variety combines drought tolerance, moderate red-rot resistance and 11.5-12.5% sugar recovery — closing the recovery gap with Co 0238 while restoring disease resilience that Co 0238 lost from 2017 onwards.

Key features

  • Pedigree: Co 05011 x Co 0238, bred at ICAR-SBI Coimbatore
  • Release year: 2020 (CVRC notification for subtropical zone — UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan)
  • Maturity group: early maturing (9-10 months)
  • Cane yield: 80-90 t/ha plant cane, 70-78 t/ha ratoon
  • Sugar recovery (CCS): 11.5-12.5% (early-season recovery 10.5%+)
  • Stalk type: medium-thick, green-yellow canes, light internodes, erect non-lodging
  • Special traits: drought tolerant under deficit irrigation, moderately resistant to red rot CF08 pathotype, good ratooning to 2-3 cycles

Cultivation zones

Co 15023 is notified for the subtropical zone — Uttar Pradesh (central and eastern), Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. ICAR-IISR Lucknow recommends it specifically for red-rot-hotspot blocks where Co 0238 has broken down, and for water-stressed canal-tail-end villages. Planting in autumn (October-November) or spring (February-March) at 75-90 cm row spacing with 3-bud setts. Standard subtropical fertiliser schedule: 150:60:60 kg NPK per hectare, with 25% N as basal and the balance in two split doses.

Pests and diseases

The defining selling point of Co 15023 is moderate resistance to red rot caused by Colletotrichum falcatum, including the CF08 (Pathotype 14) lineage that overcame Co 0238. AICRP-Sugarcane multi-location screening rated it MR (moderately resistant) against the prevailing eastern UP isolates. The variety is also field-tolerant to smut and rated MS (moderately susceptible) to top borer and pyrilla. ICAR-IISR specifies that even moderately resistant varieties should be planted with healthy heat-treated seed and rotated every 3-4 years on red-rot-affected blocks.

Adoption

Released only in 2020, Co 15023 is in the early expansion phase. UP cane departments and mill development cells have promoted phased seed multiplication: 2021-22 was breeder seed, 2022-23 foundation seed at registered nurseries, and 2024-25 onward commercial planting on red-rot-replacement blocks. Mills in Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Gorakhpur and Saharanpur districts have begun nucleus seed plots. The variety is also one of the key replacement options recommended alongside Co 0118 and Co 98014 for the post-Co 0238 transition.

See also: Sugarcane crop, Co 0238 sugarcane, Sugarcane red rot, Sugarcane ratoon crop, Sugarcane recovery percentage, Sugarcane FRP.

Sources

  1. Varieties. ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore.
  2. Sugarcane research bulletins. ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow.
  3. AICRP on Sugarcane annual report. All India Coordinated Research Project on Sugarcane.